DOLLY PARTON PRESENTED WITH THE TEX RITTER AWARD FOR COAT OF MANY COLORS

Tweet: Winners Announced for the 51st @ACMawards – Country Music’s Party of the Year®

LAS VEGAS, NV (April 3, 2016) – Winners have been announced for the 51ST ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, a star-studded ceremony broadcast LIVE tonight on the CBS Television Network from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV. The industry named Jason Aldean as Entertainer of the Year, the evening’s biggest honor. Aldean has been previously nominated four times in this category.

Dolly Parton was presented the Tex Ritter Award to recognize the success of Coat of Many Colors. The Tex Ritter Award is presented to recognize a motion picture that featured country music and received major exposure. Parton and pop superstar Katy Perry joined forces for an unprecedented duet performance live on the telecast.

Chris Stapletonwon Male Vocalist of the Year for the first time. As previously announced, he came into the night already a winner of the New Male Vocalist of the Year award. Stapleton is the leading winner of the night with a total of six wins, including Album of the Year as both Artist and Producer, and Song of the Year as both Artist and Producer. With his six wins he ties the record for most ACM Awards won in a single year. Only Garth Brooks and Faith Hill have reached this pinnacle before.

Miranda Lambert won Female Vocalist of the Year for the seventh consecutive year, setting a new record for the most consecutive wins in that category. Lambert also won Vocal Event of the Year for Smokin’ And Drinkin’ with Little Big Town, presented prior to the show on the red carpet.

Little Big Town won the Vocal Group of the Year award for the second year in a row, and third time overall. They also won Vocal Event of the Year for Smokin’ And Drinkin’ with Miranda Lambert.

Thomas Rhett won Single Record of the Year for Die A Happy Man. This is Rhett’s first-ever ACM award win.

Kelsea Ballerini was previously awarded New Female Vocalist of the Year, and performed an energetic medley of her new single Peter Pan and her breakout number-one hit Love Me Like You Mean It, with Nick Jonas.

Eric Churchwon Video of the Year for Mr. Misunderstood. Florida Georgia Linewon Vocal Duo of the Year for the third year in a row. Both Church and Florida Georgia Line were presented with the awards prior to the telecast.

Following is the list of winners in the 13 categories voted on by the membership:

Entertainer of the Year

Jason Aldean

Male Vocalist of the year

Chris Stapleton

Female Vocalist of the year

Miranda Lambert

Vocal Duo of the year *(Off Camera Award)

Florida Georgia Line

Vocal Group OF THE YEAR

Little Big Town

NEW MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR *(Off Camera Award)

Chris Stapleton

NEW FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR *(Off Camera Award)

Kelsea Ballerini

NEW VOCAL DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR *(Off Camera Award)

Old Dominion

ALBUM OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]

Traveller – Chris Stapleton

Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton

Record Label: Mercury Records

Single Record of the Year [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]

Video of the Year [Awarded to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)] *(Off Camera Award)

Mr. Misunderstood – Eric Church

Directors: Reid Long, John Peets

Producer: Megan Smith

Vocal Event of the Year [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]*(Off Camera Award)

Smokin’ And Drinkin’ – Miranda Lambert Featuring Little Big Town

Producers: Frank Liddell, Chuck Ainlay, Glenn Worf

Record Label: RCA Nashville

For a complete list of past and present wins and nominations, please visit ACMcountry.com and search the ACM Awards Database located on the Homepage.

Getty Images is the official photographer for the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS and photos can be accessed at GettyImages.com.

About the Academy of Country Music Awards

The 51ST Academy of Country Music Awards is dedicated to honoring and showcasing the biggest names and emerging talent in the country music industry. The show is produced for television by dick clark productions and will broadcast LIVE from MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sunday, April 3, 2016 at 8:00 PM live ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network. Allen Shapiro, Mike Mahan, R.A. Clark, Barry Adelman and Mark Bracco are executive producers. Bob Romeo is executive producer for the Academy of Country Music.

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